Grip for a hockey stick with a hollow-ended shaft

ABSTRACT

Described is a grip for attachment to a sport stick having a shaft. One end of the shaft has a opening extending longitudinally into the shaft. The grip comprises an elongated grip portion having a hilt. The hilt has a longitudinal dimension sized for being grasped by the hand of a user. The grip also comprises an insertion portion at one end of the elongated grip portion. The insertion portion is sized to provide close insertion into the opening at the one end of the shaft.

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/350,647, filed Jan. 24, 2003, titled“Grip for a Hockey Stick With a Hollow-Ended Shaft”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a grip for sport sticks. Inparticular, the invention relates to a grip for a hollow or partiallyhollow shaft of a hockey stick.

BACKGROUND

Traditional hockey sticks are made of wood and have a straightrectangular shaft (or handle) with a curved blade at one end of theshaft for handling and shooting a hockey puck. The hockey player holdsthe hockey stick at the other end of the shaft. The surface of the shaftis smooth and can slide within the player's hands. Typically, the playerwears thick gloves, making the hockey stick more difficult to grasp. Toimprove the grip and keep the stick from sliding out of the player'shands, the player often wraps cloth tape around the end of the shaft toaid in grasping the stick. With tape the player also often builds a knobat the end of the shaft.

In addition to wooden hockey sticks, industry has produced hockey sticksof different material, such as plastic, which offers a safer alternativeto the wooden stick and proves gentler to gymnasium floors (useful forfloor hockey). Industry has also recently produced hockey sticks ofaluminum and composite construction. Such hockey sticks are lighter inweight and have greater durability than the traditional wooden hockeysticks. Notwithstanding such improvements, these new-construction hockeysticks are similar to their traditional wooden counterparts in thatthey, too, have straight rectangular shafts and are therefore difficultto hold. Accordingly, the traditional method of using tape to produce ahandgrip and a knob has carried over to the newer aluminum andcomposite-type sticks. As with the wooden sticks, however, these tapedgrips are awkward to use because the taped grip is predominatelyrectangular in shape, making it difficult and at times uncomfortable tohold with ungloved or gloved hands. Typically, taped grips are alsounsightly and wear out quickly.

This discomfort and unsightliness associated with taped grips has led tothe development of hockey stick grips that seek to improve stickhandling comfort, style, and ease of use. Canadian Patent ApplicationNo. 2,270,681, published on Nov. 4, 2000, discloses an example of aresilient grip with a protrusion that rounds out one side to fit thepalm of a player's hand. This grip has a handle recess (or sleeve) forreceiving the end of the solid hockey stick handle (i.e., shaft) of woodor composite construction. Although the grip may improve the handlingcomfort of the player, methods for inserting and removing the hockeystick handle into and from the handle recess can be difficult. The '681application suggests blowing compressed air into the handle recess inorder to insert or remove the handle from the grip. The inconvenience ofusing a compressed air supply is likely to discourage removing the grip,for example, if the stick were to break. Another disadvantage is thatafter inserting the hockey stick handle into the sleeve, the sleeve isthicker and bulkier than the stick handle itself, making the sleeveuncomfortable to grasp because, for some users, the thickness is toolarge for their hand. Accordingly, there is a need for a comfortablegrip that can be used with the new-construction hockey sticks withoutthe aforementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features a grip for attachment to a sportstick having a shaft. One end of the shaft has an opening extendinglongitudinally into the shaft along a longitudinal axis. The gripcomprises an elongated grip portion has a hilt sized for being graspedby a hand. An insertion portion extends from one end of the elongatedgrip portion. The insertion portion is sized to provide close insertioninto the opening at the one end of the shaft. The elongated grip portionextends lengthwise from the one end of the shaft approximately along thelongitudinal axis defined by the shaft of the sport stick when theinsertion portion is inserted into the opening of the shaft.

In another aspect, the invention features a grip for attachment to asport stick having a shaft. The shaft has an opening at one endextending longitudinally into the shaft along a longitudinal axis. Thegrip comprises a hilt with a longitudinal dimension that is sized forbeing grasped by a hand. The grip also has means for connecting the hiltto the shaft. The connecting means includes an insertion portion that isinserted into the opening at the one end of the shaft. The hilt extendslengthwise from the one end of the shaft approximately along thelongitudinal axis defined by the shaft when the insertion portion isinserted into the opening.

In yet another aspect, the invention features a hockey stick comprisinga hockey stick shaft and a grip attached to the shaft. The hockey stickshaft has an opening at a first end. The opening extends longitudinallyfrom the first end into the shaft along an longitudinal axis. The griphas an insertion portion and a grip portion. The insertion portion isinserted into the opening at the first end of the hockey stick shaft.The grip portion has a hilt with a longitudinal dimension that is sizedfor being grasped by a hand of a user. The hilt extends approximatelyalong the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft and has a curvedsurface along a length of the hilt that conforms to a curvature of apalm of the hand.

In still another aspect, the invention features a grip for attachment toa sport stick having a shaft. One end of the shaft has an openingextending longitudinally into the shaft. The grip has an elongated gripportion having a hilt. The hilt has a longitudinal dimension that issized for being grasped by a hand of a user. The grip also has aninsertion portion adjacent to one end of the elongated grip portion. Theinsertion portion is sized to provide close insertion into the openingat the one end of the shaft.

In still yet another aspect, the invention features a sport stickcomprising a shaft and a grip attached to the shaft. The shaft has anopening at a first end. The opening extends longitudinally from thefirst end into the shaft. The grip has an insertion portion and a gripportion. The insertion portion is inserted into the opening at the firstend of the shaft. The grip portion has a hilt with a longitudinaldimension that is sized for being grasped by a hand of a user.

In still another aspect, the invention features a grip for attachment toa hockey stick having a shaft. One end of the shaft has an openingextending longitudinally into the shaft. The grip comprises an elongatedgrip portion having a hilt with a longitudinal dimension sized for beinggrasped by a hand of a user and a guard portion located at the one endof the hilt. An insertion portion extends from one end of the elongatedgrip portion. The insertion portion is sized to provide close insertioninto the opening at the one end of the shaft. The guard portion of thegrip portion borders the one end of the shaft when the insertion portionis inserted into the opening of the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of this invention may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate likestructural elements and features in various figures. The drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a grip, constructed inaccordance with the invention, for use with a sport stick.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the grip shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cross-section view of embodiment of a universal grip of thepresent invention along line A-A′ shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a right-handed gripof the present invention along line A-A′ shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3C is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a left-handed gripof the present invention along line A-A′ shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the grip shown in FIG. 2 being grasped by anungloved hand.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the grip of the inventionwith individual finger indentations.

FIG. 6A is view of an embodiment of a curved grip constructed as asingle integral piece.

FIG. 6B is view of another embodiment of a curved grip of the invention.

FIG. 6C is a view of an embodiment of a straight grip of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a view of a grip core according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7B is a view of a grip portion according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8A is a view of a sport stick shaft aligned for attachment with oneembodiment of the grip of the invention.

FIG. 8B is a view of the sport stick shaft attached to one embodiment ofthe grip of the invention.

FIG. 8C is a cross-section view along the line B-B′ of FIG. 8B at apoint along the sport stick shaft where the grip is inserted in theshaft.

FIG. 8D is a diagram of an embodiment of a hockey stick having a grip ofthe invention attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In brief overview, the present invention features an ergonomic grip thatis used with a sport stick. The grip is particularly adapted for usewith hollow hockey sticks, such as the new construction aluminum andcomposite sticks, and provides comfort and style that a player cannottypically achieve with the traditional method of taping the gripped endof the sport stick. Although described with reference to hockey sticks(e.g., ice, street, and floor), it is to be understood that theprinciples of the invention also apply to other types of sticks, such aslacrosse sticks and walking sticks, provided such sticks have hollow orhollow-ended shafts, and to sticks constructed of different types ofmaterials or substances, for example, titanium, and to combinations ofdifferent materials and substances.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of a sport stick grip 10constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. The grip10 includes a shaft interface portion 14 and a grip portion 18. Theshaft interface portion 14 has an insertion portion 16 that enterspartially or completely into an opening at one end of a hollow orpartially hollow shaft. The insertion portion 16 has cross-sectiondimensions that provide a close fit into the shaft.

For example, hollow hockey stick shafts (or handles) are rectangular incross-section and have outer dimensions of approximately 0.75 inches by1.125 inches. Inner dimensions are approximately 0.625 inches by 1.02inches. To fit snugly within the stick shaft, in one embodiment thecross-section dimensions of the insertion portion 16 are sized to beslightly smaller than inner cross-section dimensions of the opening inthe hockey stick shaft so the insertion portion 16 can be slid directlyinto the opening. In another embodiment, the cross-section dimensionsare the same as or slightly larger than the inner cross-sectiondimensions of the opening in the hockey stick shaft. In this embodiment,the insertion portion 16 is press (or interference) fit into the shaftopening.

The insertion portion 16 is also sufficiently long to enable a solidconnection to be formed between the grip 10 and the stick shaft.Embodiments of the grip 10 have insertion portions 16 with lengthsranging from approximately 0.25 to approximately 3.5 inches. Insertionportions 16 can be constructed with different lengths without departingfrom the principles of the invention.

The shaft interface 14 also includes a shaft stop 20. The shaft stop 20can have dimensions that are smaller, the same as, or slightly largerthan the cross-section dimensions of the sport stick. When suchdimensions are larger than the cross-section dimensions of the sportstick, the shaft stop 20 prevents the edge of the stick shaft frommaking contact with the grip portion 18.

The grip portion 18 includes a hilt 26 and optionally, a guard portion22 and a knob 30. The user of the sport stick (with an attached grip 10)grasps the hilt 26 with one hand along a longitudinal axis 28. Thelength of the hilt 26 (i.e., from guard portion 22 to knob 30) is sizedto receive the entire hand. In some embodiments, the length of the hilt26 accommodates a gloved hand. Other hilt 26 embodiments are sized foran ungloved (i.e., bare) hand. Embodiments of the grip 10 have hilts ofvarious diameters or thicknesses (i.e., for accommodating the differenthand and glove sizes in the general population). For example, the hilt26 can be thicker, thinner, or of the same thickness as the hockey stickshaft.

Optionally, the hilt 26 has a plurality of ridges 34 that increases thesurface area that comes into contact with the hand of the user, and thusimproves the user's grasp of the grip 10. The number, shape, and styleof the ridges 34 shown in FIG. 1 are merely exemplary, and do not limitthe scope of the principles of the invention. In some embodiments, theridges 34 are raised from the surface of the hilt 26. In otherembodiments the ridges 34 are depressions in the surface of the hilt 26.In yet other embodiments, both types of ridges 34 are used.

The guard portion 22 blocks another sport stick (e.g., of an opponent),during the course of a game, from sliding over the shaft onto the hilt26 and striking the user's hand. The design of the guard portion 22 canvary. For example, embodiments of the guard portion 22 include acrosspiece, as shown, a curved shield that protects the fingers, or afull basket that nearly envelopes the hand. Like the guard portion 22,the knob 30 is larger in diameter than the hilt 26. The knob 30 helpskeep the sport stick from sliding out of the hand of the user duringgame play. Also, the end 32 of the knob 30 is curved to mitigate injuryshould the grip end of the stick strike or spear another player. Anotheradvantage is that the knob 30 prevents the end of the stick fromentering the mask of another player.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment of the sport stick grip 10shown in FIG. 1. In addition to the grip features shown in FIG. 1, thisside view illustrates that the hilt 26, on one side, has a first surface40 with a longitudinal curvature (i.e., from guard portion 22 to knob30) and, on another side, a second longitudinal surface 44, which in oneembodiment is approximately planar. Different embodiments of the grip 10have surfaces 40, 44 with varying degrees of curvature to accommodatethe varying hand sizes in the general population and intended uses(e.g., with or without gloves) for the stick. For example, otherembodiments of the grip 10 have hilts 26 that are approximatelyrectangular in shape (longitudinally) and have first and secondlongitudinal surfaces 40, 44 that are substantially straight.

Optionally, the hilt 26 also has an indentation 42 for receiving fingersthat wrap around the hilt 26. FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C showcross-sections of different embodiments of the hilt 26, 26′, and 26″(generally, hilt 26), showing the indentation 42 for universal,right-handed, or left-handed use, respectively. Each cross-section isalong line A-A′ in FIG. 2 and shows that the first surface 40 on oneside of the hilt 26 (i.e., facing the palm of the hand) and the secondsurface 44 on the opposite side of the hilt 26 (i.e., facing thefingers) each have a latitudinal curve. FIG. 3A also shows diameters D1and D2 of the hilt 26. Either or both diameters D1 and D2 of the hilt 26can be shorter or have the same length as the corresponding dimension ofthe hockey stick shaft. (Diameter D1 corresponds to the longercross-sectional dimension of the hockey stick shaft and diameter D2corresponds to the shorter cross-sectional dimension of the hockey stickshaft.)

When a user's hand grasps the grip 10, as shown with dashed lines inFIG. 4, part of the surface 40 presses against the palm of the hand, thefingers wrap around the surface 44 of the hilt 26, and the tips of thefingers lay in the indentation 42. For those embodiments with suchfeatures, the curved surfaces 40, 44 and indentation 42 improve thecomfortable feel of the grip 10 in the user's hand. In some embodiments,the indentation 42 is a single large depression for receiving each ofthe fingers that wrap around the hilt 26, or separate depressions eachsized to receive a single finger (as shown in FIG. 5).

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C show various embodiments of grips of theinvention. FIG. 6A shows a curved grip 10′ constructed as a single(i.e., integral) piece. The grip 10′ is constructed of a resilientmaterial, such as polyvinyl. Other types of construction materials foran integral grip 10 include, but are not limited to, wood, plastic,metal, composite, thermoplastic elastomer, synthetic rubber, rubber, andcombinations thereof. FIG. 6B shows another embodiment of a curved grip10″, here constructed from a plurality of components, as described inmore detail in FIG. 7A. FIG. 6C shows an embodiment of a straight grip10′″, here constructed from a plurality of components, as described inmore detail in FIG. 7B. It is to be understood that the straight grip10′″ can also be constructed of an integral piece of material, such asthe curved grip 10′ of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B each show the construction of an embodiment of agrip 10″, 10′″, respectively, as a plurality of pieces. FIG. 7A shows agrip core 60″, including an insertion portion 16″ and a shaft stop 20″,and a grip portion 18″, including a bore 64″ that extends into the gripportion 18″, for receiving the grip core 60″. Similarly, FIG. 7B shows agrip core 60′″, including an insertion portion 16′″ and a shaft stop20′″, and a grip portion 18′″, including a bore 64′″ that extends intothe grip portion 18′″, for receiving the grip core 60′″. Hereafter, theprime designations (″ and ′″) are dropped to simplify the description ofthese embodiments. The construction material of each grip core 60 isgenerally designed to provide a solid skeletal structure for the gripportion 18. Examples of construction material include thermoplasticcomposite (e.g., a combination of fiberglass and thermoplastic),thermoplastics, and thermosets. Different embodiments of the grip core60 have different degrees of stiffness (or, conversely, flexibility). Ingeneral, the stiffness of the grip core 60 is designed to cooperate withthe stiffness or flexibility of the shaft of the hockey stick.Accordingly, a grip core 60 with flexibility enables the grip 10 to flexwith the flexing of the hockey stick. Stiffness ratings currently usedto rate the stiffness of hockey sticks can also be used to rate thestiffness of the grip core 60 (and, correspondingly, the grip 10).

As shown in FIG. 7A and in FIG. 7B, the shaft stop 20 is thinner thanthe insertion portion 16 so that when the grip core 60 is within thebore 64, the thickness of the hilt of the grip 10 approximates thethickness of the hockey stick shaft. As described above, the thicknessof the hilt can be less than, equal to, or greater than the thickness ofthe hockey stick shaft. The thickness of the hilt depends, in part, onthe thickness of the grip core 60. Also, the grip core 60 can be solidor hollow, and examples of construction material include, but are notlimited to, wood, plastic, metal, composite, or rubber. Examples ofconstruction material for the grip portion 18 include, but are notlimited to, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, and composite. Oneembodiment of the grip portion 18 is constructed of thermoplasticelastomer (TPE) manufactured by GLS Corporation of McHenry, Ill.Embodiments of the grip portion 18 that are constructed of resilientmaterial such as TPE, synthetic rubber, and rubber provide acomfortable, grippy or soft feel, particularly to a bare hand. Methodsof manufacturing cores and grip portions of such materials are known inthe art.

Methods for combining the grip core 60 and the grip portion 18 toproduce the grip 10 are also known in the art. In one embodiment, thegrip portion 18 is formed, molded around, or over-molded over the gripcore 60. In another embodiment, the grip portion 18 is producedseparately from the grip core 60, and the grip core 60 is subsequentlyinserted into the bore 64 of the grip portion 18. Optionally, the gripportion 18 has a small opening at one end (opposite the end thatreceives the grip core 60) to facilitate insertion of the grip core 60by allowing air to escape when the grip core 60 is inserted. An epoxy(or glue, in general) firmly fastens the grip core 60 within the gripportion 18. For both types of methods, once the grip core 60 is fixedwithin the grip portion 18, the insertion portion 16 projects from thegrip portion 18, and, for the embodiments shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B,the shaft stop 20 is encased by the grip portion 18 (i.e., the stickshaft abuts the guard portion 22 of the grip portion 18 when connectedto the grip 10).

FIG. 8A shows a shaft 80 of a sport stick and grip 10 of the inventionprior to attachment.

The insertion portion 16 of the grip 10 is aligned with an opening 84 atone end of the sport stick shaft 80. In one embodiment, heat-activatedadhesive (e.g., glue, epoxy) coats the insertion portion 16. To attachthe grip 10 to the shaft 80, the user places the insertion portion 16into the shaft opening 84 and heats the shaft 80 in the vicinity of theinsertion portion 16. Alternatively, the adhesive is heated prior toinserting the insertion portion 16 into the shaft 80. The heat causesthe adhesive to soften and contact the inside walls of the shaft 80.Upon cooling, the adhesive solidifies and affixes the insertion portion16 to the inside walls of the shaft 80. Because the insertion portion 16is sized to fit closely within the shaft 80, an adhesive may not benecessary to achieve a secure attachment. This is particularlyapplicable to those embodiments in which the insertion portion 16 ispress fit into the opening of the shaft 80. In other embodiments, adifferent type of fastener 88 (FIG. 8B), such as a bolt or screw, isused instead of or in addition to the adhesive to affix the handle tothe shaft 80.

FIG. 8B shows the grip 10 after attachment to the sport stick shaft 80.The extent of penetration of the insertion portion 16 within the shaft80 is indicated by the dashed line 86. FIG. 8C shows a cross-sectionalong the line B-B′ in FIG. 8B, illustrating an example of a close fitbetween the insertion portion 16 and the inside walls of the shaft 80.Although not shown in FIG. 8C, some contact between the insertionportion 16 and the inside walls can occur at some point along the shaft80. For the typical hockey stick, the cross-section is rectangular. Itis to be understood that for other types of sticks, the cross-sectioncan have different shapes, such as triangular (e.g., particular hockeysticks), hexagonal (e.g., for lacrosse sticks), elliptical, octagonal,circular. FIG. 8D shows an embodiment of a hockey stick including thegrip 10 attached to one end of the shaft 80 and a hockey stick blade 100attached to the other end of the shaft 80.

Occasionally, the user may desire to remove the grip 10 from the shaft80. For example, normal wear and tear, the sport stick may break, theuser's hands may grow in size, or the user may desire a differentlyshaped grip or grip color. To remove the grip 10, the user pulls thegrip 10 with sufficient force to remove the insertion portion 16 fromthe shaft. If a heat-activated adhesive is used to secure the grip 10 tothe shaft, the user heats the shaft 80 in the vicinity of the insertionportion 16 to soften the adhesive sufficiently to allow the grip 10 tobe pulled from shaft 80.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tospecific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the following claims. For example, a grip constructed according tothe principles of the invention can be constructed in an assortment ofcolors, and in a variety of distinctive ergonomic styles; that is, thecolor, shape, and dimensions of each grip can be customized to satisfy aparticular player's taste and physical requirements (e.g., the size ofhands and gloves, if worn), and the type of sport played (street hockey,ice hockey, field hockey, floor hockey, lacrosse, etc).

1. A grip for attachment to a sport stick having a shaft, one end of theshaft having an opening extending longitudinally into the shaft along alongitudinal axis, the grip comprising: a grip core having a hiltportion and one or more grooves formed in the hilt portion, each groovehaving a depth that varies along a length of that groove; an elongatedgrip portion covering one end of the grip core and the one or moregrooves, the elongated grip portion having a hilt sized for beinggrasped by a hand; and an insertion portion extending from one end ofthe grip core, the insertion portion being sized to provide closeinsertion into the opening at the one end of the shaft, the elongatedgrip portion extending lengthwise from the one end of the shaftapproximately along the longitudinal axis defined by the shaft of thesport stick when the insertion portion is inserted into the opening ofthe shaft.
 2. The grip of claim 1, wherein the one or more groovesincludes at least two grooves with different lengths.
 3. The grip ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more grooves extends from the hilt portioninto a knob portion of the grip core.
 4. The grip of claim 1, whereinthe one or more grooves formed in the hilt portion of the grip core eachextends along a partial length of the hilt portion.
 5. The grip of claim1, wherein the hilt has a curved longitudinal surface that conforms to acurvature of a palm of the hand.
 6. The grip of claim 1, wherein thehilt has a diameter that is smaller than a corresponding cross-sectionaldimension of the shaft of the sport stick.
 7. The grip of claim 1,wherein the hilt has a diameter that is as large as or larger than acorresponding cross-sectional dimension of the shaft of the sport stick.8. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip portion includes a guardportion at the one end of the hilt.
 9. The grip of claim 1, wherein thegrip portion includes a knob at one end of the grip portion.
 10. Thegrip of claim 1, wherein the hilt has an indentation in a surface forreceiving one or more fingers when the palm of the hand presses againstthe longitudinally curved surface.
 11. The grip of claim 1, wherein theinsertion portion and the grip portion are constructed of differentmaterials.
 12. A grip for attachment to a sport stick having a shaft,the shaft having an opening at one end extending longitudinally into theshaft along a longitudinal axis, the grip comprising: a hilt having alongitudinal dimension sized for being grasped by a hand; and means forconnecting the hilt to the shaft, the connecting means including a gripcore and an insertion portion, the grip core having a hilt portion andone or more grooves formed in the hilt portion, each groove having adepth that varies along a length of that groove, the insertion portionbeing inserted into the opening at the one end of the shaft, the hiltextending lengthwise from the one end of the shaft approximately alongthe longitudinal axis defined by the shaft when the insertion portion isinserted into the opening.
 13. The grip of claim 12, wherein the one ormore grooves includes at least two grooves with different lengths. 14.The grip of claim 12, wherein the one or more grooves extend from thehilt portion into a knob portion of the grip core.
 15. The grip of claim12, wherein the one or more grooves formed in the hilt portion of thegrip core each extends along a partial length of the hilt portion. 16.The grip of claim 12, wherein the hilt has a curved longitudinal surfacethat conforms to a curvature of a palm of the hand.
 17. The grip ofclaim 12, wherein the hilt has a diameter that is smaller than acorresponding cross-sectional dimension of the shaft of the sport stick.18. The grip of claim 12, wherein the hilt has a diameter that is aslarge as or larger than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of theshaft of the sport stick.
 19. The grip of claim 12, wherein the hilt hasa curved longitudinal surface that conforms to a curvature of a palm ofthe hand.
 20. The grip of claim 12, further comprising means, disposedat the one end of the hilt, for guarding the hand grasping the hilt. 21.The grip of claim 12, further comprising means for restricting the handfrom sliding off the hilt.
 22. The grip of claim 21, wherein therestricting means includes a knob at the other end of the hilt.
 23. Thegrip of claim 21, wherein the restricting means includes ridges on asurface of the hilt.
 24. The grip of claim 15, wherein the hilt includesmeans for receiving one or more fingers when the hand grasps the hilt.25. A hockey stick, comprising: a hockey stick shaft having an openingat a first end, the opening extending longitudinally from the first endinto the shaft along an longitudinal axis; and a grip having a gripcore, an insertion portion and a grip portion, the grip core having ahilt portion and one or more grooves formed in the hilt portion, eachgroove having a depth that varies along a length of that groove, theinsertion portion being inserted into the opening at the first end ofthe hockey stick shaft, the grip portion covering one end of the gripcore and the one or more grooves and having a hilt with a longitudinaldimension sized for being grasped by a hand of a user, the hiltextending approximately along the longitudinal axis defined by the shaftand having a curved surface along a length of the hilt that conforms toa curvature of a palm of the hand.
 26. The hockey stick of claim 25,wherein the one or more grooves includes at least two grooves withdifferent lengths.
 27. The hockey stick of claim 25, wherein the one ormore grooves extend from the hilt portion into a knob portion of thegrip core.
 28. The hockey stick of claim 25, wherein the one or moregrooves formed in the hilt portion of the grip core each extends along apartial length of the hilt portion.
 29. The hockey stick of claim 25,wherein the hilt has a curved longitudinal surface that conforms to acurvature of a palm of the hand.
 30. The hockey stick of claim 25,wherein the hilt has a diameter that is smaller than a correspondingcross-sectional dimension of the shaft of the hockey stick.
 31. Thehockey stick of claim 25, wherein the hilt has a diameter that is aslarge as or larger than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of theshaft of the sport stick.
 32. The hockey stick of claim 25, furthercomprising a fastener securing the insertion portion of the grip to theshaft.
 33. The hockey stick of claim 32, wherein the fastener is anadhesive.
 34. The hockey stick of claim 25, further comprising a hockeystick blade attached to a second end of the shaft.
 35. The hockey stickof claim 25, wherein a longitudinal length of the hilt is sized forbeing grasped by a gloved hand.
 36. The hockey stick of claim 35,wherein a longitudinal length of the hilt is sized for being grasped bya bare hand.
 37. The hockey stick of claim 35, wherein the grip portionincludes a guard portion at the one end of the hilt.
 38. The hockeystick of claim 35, wherein the grip portion includes a knob at one endof the hilt.
 39. A sport stick, comprising: a shaft having an opening ata first end, the opening extending longitudinally from the first endinto the shaft; a grip having a grip core, an insertion portion and agrip portion, the grip core having a hilt portion, a knob portion at oneend of the hilt portion, and one or more grooves formed in the knobportion, each groove in the knob portion terminating before reaching thehilt portion, the insertion portion being inserted into the opening atthe first end of the shaft, the grip portion covering one end of thegrip core and the one or more grooves and having a hilt with alongitudinal dimension sized for being grasped by a hand of a user, thehilt having a curved surface along a length of the hilt that conforms toa curvature of a palm of the hand.